A quarter of the iPad price? You mean the Kindle model with the 6" screen that's almost 4" smaller than the iPad? Oh yeah, that one.
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Amazon Announces New Kindles: $139 Wi-Fi, $189 3G
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A quarter of the iPad price? You mean the Kindle model with the 6" screen that's almost 4" smaller than the iPad? Oh yeah, that one.
As odd as it may appear, I prefer Barns & Noble's Nook over both the Kindle and iPad for reading ebooks. Despite Amazon being large enough to draw content from many different outlets worldwide, allowing them to offer a wider selection of newspapers and books, I find the hardware of B&N's Nook to be far more esthetically pleasing and easier to use. As for the iPad, sure it's great, but neither me nor my friends ever considered buying it as an ebook reader. The high resolution screen eventually becomes rough on the eyes, especially if you read a lot.
I get this feeling that many (not all) of the posters here hating on the Kindle probably have not read a book in ages and have no plans on reading any books. It's like people complaining about the antenna on the iPhone 4 on engadget that actually do not own one.
Isn't reading on the iPad fun? I'm not quite sure why I like it as much as I do, but it just appeals to me on a deep level.
The iPad adjusts brightness down to about 5% of full bright. If indeed your eyes are so sensitive that a small amount of light bothers you, you should visit an ophthalmologist (seriously). You may be suffering from inflammation, infection, uveitis, contact lens irritation/corneal abrasion, ocular migraine, a viral infection, etc. Curious, have you had refractive surgery or are you taking meds that have photophobia as a side effect? You really shouldn't have an issue with such low light levels, regardless of source.
Second, I'm sitting directly under very bright fluorescents 8.5 feet overhead and legibility is perfect. And I've been in five airports where I've read on the iPad without issue.
Enjoy whichever device you like. My experience says iPad is the clear winner.
You are serious right ? Maybe in a room with the lights off in the middle of the night. Try taking your iPad outside on the beach like in the commercials and reading a book in direct sun...
Give it up dude. You continue with this constant Apple hate and frankly it's tiring and a big yawn. If Apple made the Kindle exactly as Amazon made it and charged the price that Amazon currently charges for it and Amazon made the iPad exactly as Apple made it and charged the current base price of the iPad you would be praising Amazon and crapping on Apple. What is your purpose on MR, to straighten people out and to get them to buy something else besides Apple products? It ain't gonna happen.
Give it up dude. You continue with this constant Apple loving and frankly it's tiring and a big yawn. If Apple made the Kindle exactly as Amazon made it and charged the price that Amazon currently charges for it and Amazon made the iPad exactly as Apple made it and charged the current base price of the iPad you would be praising Apple and crapping on Amazon. What is your purpose on MR, to straighten people out and to get them to buy nothing else besides Apple products? It ain't gonna happen.
It always goes both ways. And there is fanboys on both end of the argument.
The fact that you can adjust the brightness level is irrelevant. It's the fact that the iPad is backlit, which eventually causes your eyes to strain after reading for a while. The Kindle (and the Nook
) both require outside light in order see the type, making it look much more like an actual book.
Yes, I'm serious. I tried the Kindle and hated it. I hate the black and white, and I hate the pauses, and I hated the small screen. As I said earlier in the thread, the Kindle absolutely is better at the beach. But the iPad is better reading in bed. I go to bed every night of my life, but I'm at the beach only several times a year. For me the advantages of the iPad outweigh the advantages of the Kindle.
The fact that you can adjust the brightness level is irrelevant. It's the fact that the iPad is backlit, which eventually causes your eyes to strain after reading for a while. The Kindle (and the Nook
The beauty of the iPad is it goes beyond actual books in functionality. The Kindle has the advantages of actual books, and some of the same disadvantages of actual books. One of those disadvantages is the need for an external light source.
My eyes strain from use on anything. Books, monitors, looking at the ocean while at the beach. The key for me, though, is that I find reading on the iPad restful for my eyes without causing any strain beyond normal use (just like reading a paper book). No idea why, but it is. If that's not true for you, use a Kindle.
i'm going to nantucket (the island) this weekend. no car, just a bike. i won't bring my ipad because it's to heavy,expensive and fragile. i would bring this new kindle.
when you want to read outside the the iPad is a doorstop. same is true if you want to browse the web on a beach in the sun. no way yopu see anything with the ipad.
How anyone can justify bringing a expensive multi-use device over a superior reading device to a beach for reading books and newspapers is beyond me. But to each its own.
That's true of Kindle and iPad owners too. The Gutenberg library is there for everyone.
If the iPad cost $139/$189, then you'd have a point. As it is, you really don't. You pay a premium of $350 and up for that multi-use device - if all you want is an e-reader, that's not an intelligent thing to do.
A quarter of the iPad price? You mean the Kindle model with the 6" screen that's almost 4" smaller than the iPad? Oh yeah, that one.
You may not realize it, but you didn't actually counter the statement "it's a quarter of the iPad's price" in the least. Some bozo who owns a 15 lb. 20" Toshiba laptop could just as easily mock your iPad, according to your "logic" anyway.
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Good grief, why do some people seem to need self-validation that apparently they can only achieve through sophomoric mockery? You love your iPad? Great! My daughter loves her iPad too - but my wife prefers her Kindle.
Why are you guys so insecure that you take any differing opinions or preferences as a personal affront?
I went on a cruise earlier this summer, and I had a balcony. I used my iPad to read in the sun. It worked. Granted I had to put the brightness to the highest level, but it was readable.
So while the Kindle might be a lot more readable in sunlight, let's not push the idea that the iPad is impossible to read in sunlight.
And boy is the iPad ideal for travel! You have a complete computer with you at all times. In its case, it is secure and rugged. Perfect for slipping in any sized carry on bag.
I am a long time Kindle user and have almost pulled the trigger on an iPad several times. The reason I greatly prefer the Kindle as a reader are:
1) weight - the Kindle can easily be help with one hand in any position (inc overhead)
2) battery life - weeks with the radio off. This might not be a big deal if you use it primarily at home or near power, but it is great for many travel situations
3) you can use it outside - I often read sitting outside, and the iPad is a lot more problematic under those conditions. I have a small clip on LED light for the dark, which doesn't seem odd to me since I am used to that from paper books
4) cost, unless you need the other iPad functionality. Since I have a 13" Macbook Pro for couch surfing and travel computing as well as an iPhone, the iPad is reduced to a very cool gadget that doesn't fill a gap once the ebook reader capability is negated.
5) the eInk displays on the Kindle and Nook are more comfortable for me to read for extended periods than backlit displays.
6) wireless access to books without a monthly AT&T fee
The only real downside for me is lack of color, and this is a limitation only for those types of books that rely heavily on color illustrations/photos (photography books for me).
Bear in mind I am not a casual Kindle user - I go through periods where I read 3-4 books a week, and often exceed that when on vacation in the RV.
My opinion is that the iPad's sweet spot is a mobile web browser & email appliance with some less optimum capability for light duty editing & spreadsheet work. It is also pretty cool if you need a more portable presentation/photo portfolio device than a laptop. For me, it isn't a very attractive ereader yet.
1) weight - the Kindle can easily be help with one hand in any position (inc overhead)
2) battery life - weeks with the radio off. This might not be a big deal if you use it primarily at home or near power, but it is great for many travel situations
3) you can use it outside - I often read sitting outside, and the iPad is a lot more problematic under those conditions. I have a small clip on LED light for the dark, which doesn't seem odd to me since I am used to that from paper books
4) cost, unless you need the other iPad functionality. Since I have a 13" Macbook Pro for couch surfing and travel computing as well as an iPhone, the iPad is reduced to a very cool gadget that doesn't fill a gap once the ebook reader capability is negated.
5) the eInk displays on the Kindle and Nook are more comfortable for me to read for extended periods than backlit displays.
6) wireless access to books without a monthly AT&T fee
The only real downside for me is lack of color, and this is a limitation only for those types of books that rely heavily on color illustrations/photos (photography books for me).
Bear in mind I am not a casual Kindle user - I go through periods where I read 3-4 books a week, and often exceed that when on vacation in the RV.
My opinion is that the iPad's sweet spot is a mobile web browser & email appliance with some less optimum capability for light duty editing & spreadsheet work. It is also pretty cool if you need a more portable presentation/photo portfolio device than a laptop. For me, it isn't a very attractive ereader yet.
Cool pic and nice run down. Thanks for the post.
Edit: I dig your wallpaper as well. How excited are you that Whedon is helming The Avengers flick?
Almost everything Joss does is a good thing. I wasn't overwhelmed by DollHouse. Still smarting about Firefly.
Well - I've ordered the new 9" kindle. Better screen, grey, more storage and lighter.
You might also like the wallpaper on my iMac...
The fact that you can adjust the brightness level is irrelevant. It's the fact that the iPad is backlit, which eventually causes your eyes to strain after reading for a while. The Kindle (and the Nook
Ah, the Backlight Mythology. No scientific support, and further found to be false by millions (or hundreds of millions) of day-long computer users. All vision is the result of light reflected into your eyes; the actual source or angle (direction) of the light is irrelevant in normal vision; too high or too low is what matters. Most eye strain at electronic devices is from the constant focus on the plane of the display, easily alleviated by looking elsewhere periodically. Or having more interesting work, either one.
Personally, I don't find either the Kindle or Nook much like a real book.
been thinking of buying a kindle, but I'm not sure which basket I want to put all my eggs in so to speak. I'd prefer buying books from one store and using one app. (probably not necessary but I'm like that). I don't plan on buying an iPad and now use my iPhone for a lot of e-reading. I don't mind it, and I like that you don't need a light to use it. Now though, the kindle has me thinking I can just use it as an at home reader, and the iphone, which is always with me, as an everywhere reader. Whispersync really is attractive here... but I don't love the iphone kindle app nearly as much as iBooks...
any recommendations?
any recommendations?